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Extending Informix®Beyond standard relational database objects, HCL Informix® can be extended to handle specialized data types, access methods, routines, and other objects. Informix® includes many built-in extensions that are fully integrated in the database server. Informix® also provides DataBlade® modules, which are packages of extended database objects for a particular purpose and that are installed separately from the database server. Alternatively, you can create your own user-defined objects for Informix®.
Creating extensionsYou can create user-defined data types, routines, access methods, and other database objects to suit your needs. You can use application programming interfaces to write user-defined routines and applications that access data in Informix® databases.
DataBlade® Developers KitThe DataBlade® Developers Kit (DBDK) guides contain information about the tools you can use to develop and package DataBlade® modules, which extend the functionality of HCL Informix® databases.
DataBlade® Developers Kit User's GuideThe HCL Informix® DataBlade® Developers Kit User's Guide describes how to use tools to develop and package DataBlade® modules.
Programming guidelinesUse this section to help you when you write the design specification for your DataBlade® module.
Programming language optionsThis section explains the programming language options you have when you use BladeSmith to generate source code for your DataBlade® module.
Options for opaque data types
ActiveX value objectsYou can create ActiveX value objects with . An ActiveX value object is an object that is compliant with Microsoft™ Common Object Model (COM) and contains a client-side copy of database data.

ActiveX value objects

You can create ActiveX value objects with . An ActiveX value object is an object that is compliant with Microsoft™ Common Object Model (COM) and contains a client-side copy of database data.

The following table summarizes the relationship between ActiveX elements and HCL Informix® opaque data type elements.

Table 1. Relationship between ActiveX elements and Informix opaque data type elements
ActiveX element	Opaque data type element
ActiveX control (or ActiveX object)	Opaque data type
Custom methods (dual interface)	Opaque type support routines
Properties	Accessor methods for the members of the data structure that defines the opaque type
States	N.A.
Events	N.A.
Interfaces (ActiveX value objects provide the IRawObjectAccess and ITDkValue interfaces)	N.A.

Important: Changing an object on the client does not update the object on the database server. To update the value on the database server, you must do so explicitly with an SQL UPDATE statement.

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